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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: racket · can · bear · pop · deal · wax · bound · mark

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. pop — to visit
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. bear — the animal
  6. deal — to handle
  7. bound — certain
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. can — a tin
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. pop — soda
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. bound — tied together
  14. can — to be able to
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. mark — a trace
  18. wax — to grow
  19. bear — the animal
  20. can — a tin
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. mark — a grade
  23. bound — obliged
  24. racket — a loud noise

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com